Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket (Shared Tour Group)

Recommended by 97% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Crete, Greece

High interest

Booked 3 times today.

1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Group discounts
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.8

· Charles_M ·

Sep 2025

Well worth the time and money. We had a fairly small group and our guide was excellent. Very interesting to learn about the history

· Paul_B ·

Jan 2026

I was the only one there today, so, unexpected private tour! Yay! Akrivi (hope I got that right!) was very informative and helpful, she knew a lot about the ruins and answered all my questions. Great place to see with a knowledgeable guide.

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Overview

See the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Palace of Knossos more intimately on a small-group walking tour, and learn more than you would wandering around alone. Explore the palace without the rush and bustle of larger sightseeing tours, and catch all the commentary about ancient Knossos and Minoan Crete. The tour even includes a skip-the-line ticket for quicker entry, so you don’t have to wait around in the sun.

Spend more time inside the Palace of Knossos with fast-track entry
Hear the history behind palace sights including the House of Frescoes
Learn more about the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete
Enjoy a more sociable experience with limited numbers on each tour

What's Included

Original reseller of service - Authorized travel agent.
Skip-the-ticket-line service, to avoid the queue at the ticket counter.
Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee ( 20 EUR ).
Licensed tour guide for a guided tour in a group at Knossos palace.
Headset to hear the guide better, if group size is over 6 participants (7-15 pax).
Optional Add-On: Archaeological Museum (13:30 o'clock)

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

The Palace of Knossos

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Most travelers can participate
During the summer months (June-July-August), Visit Knossos and avoid the crowds and the heat! Unravel the myth of the labyrinth and experience Knossos at its most serene, with the best time being at 17:00 (5:00 PM). Join us for a truly memorable experience!
Knossos Palace – Meeting Information Our check-in operator will be waiting for you by the ticket booth at Knossos, holding a sign with our “Meeting Point” logo. Check-in begins 20 minutes before the tour start time. This is a shared group tour with strict entry time slots. Late arrivals cannot be admitted. If you arrive after your scheduled time, your reserved entry tickets will have already expired and the tour will be considered a no-show. Subject to availability, we will do our very best to assist you in purchasing new entry tickets; however, once the guided tour has started, it may not be possible to join. Arriving by car? Please allow extra time to find parking. We strongly recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the tour start time, especially for the 10:00–11:00 AM slots, when parking and site entry are busiest. Summer Tip (June–August): The most comfortable time to explore Knossos is 17:00 (5:00 PM), when the crowds and heat are at their lowest. Join us then for a more serene experience as you unravel the myths of the Labyrinth and the grandeur of Minoan Crete.
Please check your location before booking! Knossos Palace is just 5 km (20 min) from Heraklion port/airport — very convenient. It’s not convenient from Chania (Souda port or CHQ airport) — it's 140 km away (2.5 hrs by car). We are based in Heraklion
How to Redeem : Your Guide will redeem this ticket for your entry ticket.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 285 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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I was the only one there...

Paul_B, Jan 2026

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear Paul, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re delighted to hear that your visit turned into an unexpected private tour, sometimes the best moments are the unplanned ones!! Akrivi will be especially happy to know that her knowledge, enthusiasm, and attention made your visit to Knossos even more meaningful. We’re proud to work with guides who truly love what they do and enjoy sharing it with curious travelers like you. We hope the memories from Knossos stay with you for a long time, and we’d be very happy to welcome you again in Crete.

Great Experience

Charles_M, Sep 2025

Well worth the time and money. We had a fairly small group and our guide was excellent. Very interesting to learn about the history

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Charles, Thank you so much for your kind words and for joining our Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience, appreciated the insights into Minoan history, and that your guide made the visit both engaging and memorable. We truly value your recommendation and would be glad to welcome you back anytime to discover even more of Crete’s treasures with us. Warm regards, The WeGuide Team – Travel Crete

Top marks!

Keith_R, Sep 2025

Our guide was knowledgeable, informative and fun, really bringing the story of Knossos alive. Well worth it.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Keith, Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us! We are delighted to hear that your guide brought the history and stories of Knossos to life in such an engaging way. It’s wonderful to know you found the tour both informative and enjoyable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Crete for more discoveries in the future.

Enjoyable and Informative tour of Knossos

Matthew_M, Sep 2025

Very informative tour of a place of such significant history. Knossos is a must do if you are in Crete

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Dear Matthew, thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit to Knossos with us and found the tour both enjoyable and informative. Knossos is truly one of the jewels of Crete, and it’s always a pleasure to share its fascinating history with our guests. We hope to welcome you again on another journey through Crete’s culture and heritage!

Worth it to get a great history of Greece and Crete

Shalini_N, Aug 2025

Great way to understand the history of the Minoans and how it all comes together. Good to combine this with the museum ideally.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Shalini, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the fascinating history of the Minoans with us. Combining Knossos with the Archaeological Museum truly gives a complete picture of Crete’s rich past, and we’re glad you found it worthwhile. We hope to welcome you back for more discoveries in Crete! Warm regards, Giannis Travel Crete – WeGuide Travelers "Behind Myths Lies True"

Guided tour > solo

Alexey_F, Jul 2025

I feel that without a guide the labyrinth of Knossos would be a boring walk around dead stones. In this tour the guide was awesome and made the place feel alive with her stories. Also I learned a few interesting historical facts. Can only recommend this vs going solo.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

ear Alexey, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that your guided tour of the Knossos Palace brought the ancient site to life for you. Our goal is exactly that—to transform what might seem like “just stones” into a living story of myths, kings, and an extraordinary civilization. We're especially glad to know our guide helped make the experience memorable and educational. Your kind recommendation means a lot to our team. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure through Crete’s timeless beauty and history! Warm regards, The Travel Crete – WeGuide Team

Great tour! Amazing guide! Profound!

Adam_G, Jul 2025

We had a great tour of the Knossos palace - our guide was a very knowledgable lady who told us an updated history of what archaeologists now know about it - and gave a profound interpretation of the site and about what it means that we will never forget.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Adam, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your tour of Knossos Palace and found the experience both insightful and unforgettable. Our guides are passionate about sharing the latest archaeological perspectives, and it’s truly rewarding to know it made such a profound impression. We hope to welcome you back to Crete for more stories and discoveries! Warm regards, The TravelCrete – WeGuide Travelers Team Behind Myths Lies True

Best tour to learn the history behind the myth

Petrina_L, Jun 2025

The site came to life as Katherine explained what went on during ancient Minoan times and what is being done to learn more and preserve the site. Katherine was extremely knowledgeable since she and her husband have actively worked to excavate the site as archeologists. She shared theories that have been proven and disproved. This wasn’t your average tour with videos to watch. She told the history in exciting tidbits that kept everyone interested.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Dear Petrina, Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that Katherine brought the site of Knossos to life for you with her expert storytelling and archaeological insight. Her hands-on experience and passion for the Minoan world truly add depth to each tour, and it’s wonderful to know this made your visit memorable. We appreciate you choosing to explore history with us and hope to welcome you again soon for more journeys into the myths and truths of Crete!

Our guide was very...

Katie_F, Jun 2025

Our guide was very knowledgeable and her stories were interesting, recommended a tour around Knossos as there is not a lot of signage to tell you what you are looking at.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Dear Katie, Thank you for your kind words and for recommending the tour! We're glad you enjoyed the stories and insights from our guide Akrivi - it’s true that having a guide at Knossos really brings the site to life, especially with limited signage. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again!

Well Worth Trip to Knossos Palace with Very Informative Guide

Brett_H, May 2025

We had a positive experience touring Knossos Palace. Our guide was very informative and communicated clearly with the group, even on a day with 50+ mph winds. She did a great job using audio equipment so we could follow along despite the weather. The site itself is rich with history and mythology, and having a guide made a big difference in helping us understand and appreciate what we were seeing. While Knossos is fascinating, there’s only so much to explore on-site, so we’d recommend pairing the visit with a trip into the city afterward to round out the day. Overall, a worthwhile tour that gives great insight into one of Crete’s most important historical landmarks.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Knossos Palace with us—and especially proud of how well Akrivi guided your group, even with those 50+ mph winds! She's truly passionate about sharing Crete’s rich stories, and it's wonderful to hear her knowledge and use of the audio equipment helped you connect with the site despite the weather. We loved reading that you appreciated not just the historical depth, but also the idea of pairing Knossos with a city visit afterward—such a great way to round out the day! Your recommendation means the world to us and helps others discover the magic of Crete through fresh eyes. It was a pleasure having you on our tour, and we hope to welcome you back again someday for more exploring, sunshine, and maybe slightly calmer winds!

Our guide was wonderful.

Alex_A, May 2025

Our guide was wonderful. Super knowledgeable and passionate about Greece and its storied history. Short and tour - felt just right!

Response from Host, May 2025

Dear Alex_A, Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour of Knossos Palace and that your guide made the history of Greece come alive with knowledge and passion. It’s great to know the tour felt just right in length and pace for you. We hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon!

Excellent tour. Our...

Margaret_B, Mar 2025

Excellent tour. Our guide was super knowledgeable. Way better than exploring on our own. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you!!

Off Season Family Fun

John_W, Dec 2024

Extremely knowledgeable guide who keeps up to date with the latest research and brings the site to life. She also puts up with kids who struggle to maintain their interest during the tour.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Happy New Year !! Thank you !!!

Great tour!!

Katherine_A, Nov 2024

Fantastic tour! Lots of mythology and history. Our guide also gave us context for everything in the archaeological museum so we went there after. A mix of informative and fun!

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you !!

Always book a tour with a guide!

Steven_C, Oct 2024

Our guide was really interesting! Brought the ruined city and palace alive! Well worth booking a tour with a guide - I’d never consider just wandering around a site now.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you !!

Amazing guide through history and myth!

Lauren_M, Oct 2024

Akrivi was an amazing tour guide! She really told a story with the mythology and also history behind the mythology surrounding the Temple of Knossos.

We toured Knossos and the guide, Akrivi, was great. She had many facts and drew the group into what life at the palace would have been like. It was great experience for everyone in the group.